Easter Screech Owl Chick Found Under Golf Cart

Editor’s Note: The Eastern screech owl chick is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of the patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect all of our wildlife. Read previous cases here.

An Eastern screech owl chick (Megascops asio) was brought to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife after being found hiding underneath a golf cart. CROW veterinarians found no significant injuries, aside from mild dehydration.

Weighing in at just 55 grams (1.6 ounces), this tiny patient (26-1685) is now being raised by CROW’s team under standard orphan care protocols until it is old enough and strong enough to return to the wild.

Eastern screech owls are small, well-camouflaged owls that often nest in tree cavities and can sometimes end up on the ground while learning to explore. They are considered to be excellent pest controllers and are vital to the ecosystem. During baby season, please remember that baby birds may end up on the ground — a quick look around vehicles can save a life.

Eastern screech owls are listed as a species of Least Concern in the world of wildlife conservation, largely thanks to their generalist diet and ability to adapt to urban environments. Screech owls hunt everything from rodents and small birds to lizards and tadpoles.

However, like most bird species, overdevelopment is currently limiting their habitat, and wild populations have decreased by about 40% since 1966. This has prompted efforts to install artificial nesting boxes to help screech owls rebound in certain areas.